Jesus Gomez keeps a large glass candy jar on his desk where his delivery drivers slip fuel receipts for cash reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. Since the Iran War began Feb. 28, Gomez, the owner of Orange County Wholesale Flowers, has taken away the gas credit cards for his fleet of diesel- and gas-fueled refrigerated trucks that deliver flowers to florists throughout Orange, parts of eastern Los Angeles and Riverside counties. This new expense system, he says, helps cut down on fuel costs.
"My guys used to just go out and fill up at any Shell station, but I had to collect the cards, and pay them cash to find the cheapest gas station around," said Gomez, who blames the Iran war on the forced switch. "It's a tragedy. It was pretty stupid to start something without thinking of the consequences.
"This gas thing is just hurting us so bad. Some floral shops are closing. People are buying less, but it's costing me more."
With spring planting in full force and Mother's Day nearing, the supply chain for flowers, shrubs, vegetables, fruit trees and even fertilizer is experiencing a price shock from the U.S.- and Israel-led war against Iran.
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